Scott Baker

Between now and Opening Day, HardballTalk will take a look at each of baseball’s 30 teams, asking the key questions, the not-so-key questions, and generally breaking down their chances for the 2013 season. Up next: The Chicago Cubs. The Big Question: Is Theo Epstein pushing the Cubs any closer to contention? He most definitely is,…

Scott Baker was sent for an MRI exam after experiencing elbow soreness during his ugly spring training debut yesterday and now the Cubs have shut his comeback from Tommy John surgery down. Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com reports that the Cubs are “suspending Baker’s throwing program” and he’s scheduled to be examined further by the team…

The Cubs have been aiming for right-hander Scott Baker to join their rotation at some point in April, but after a bumpy Cactus League debut yesterday, he’s now being sent for an MRI on his surgically-repaired right elbow. Baker, who is currently working his way back from Tommy John surgery, gave up three hits —…

Gordon Wittenmyer, who serves as a beat writer for the Chicago Sun-Times, explains this situation: Cubs manager Dale Sveum said he anticipates right-hander Scott Baker getting his first spring start sometime in the middle of March, then opening the season on the disabled list and – barring setback – making his Cubs debut sometime in…

When the Cubs signed Carlos Villanueva to a two-year, $10 million deal in December it was assumed that he’d be in the starting rotation, but now Carrie Muskat of MLB.com writes that they “seem to be leaning toward using Villanueva out of the bullpen.” Villanueva said all the right things about filling whatever role is…

UPDATE: FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reports that Saunders will make $6.5 million and could earn an additional $1 million with incentives. The deal includes a mutual option for 2014. 4:49 PM: It’s not official yet, but Joe Saunders has agreed to a one-year deal with the Mariners and Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says it’ll be…

Matt Garza didn’t make another start after July 19 this past season due to a stress reaction in his throwing elbow, but he’s hoping for better luck in 2013. According to David Kaplan of CSNChicago.com, Garza hasn’t had any issues with his elbow since he resumed throwing earlier this month. Barring any setbacks, he fully…

We’ll be updating this one throughout the offseason. Players are listed based on their ranking in the Top 111 Free Agents. At the bottom is a listing of free agents who signed before the ranking came out, and we’ll be adding signings of players who didn’t make the top 111 as they come in. (Update:…

Carlos Villanueva agreeing to sign with the Cubs was first reported last night and now Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com has the details: $10 million for two years. Chicago is also said to be on the verge of signing Edwin Jackson to a four-year, $52 million deal, which means the Cubs will have added Jackson, Villanueva,…

That whole Anibal Sanchez thing didn’t quite work out, so the Northsiders are trying a different route. According to Jim Bowden of ESPN and Sirius XM, the Cubs are “now the front runner” for free agent right-hander Edwin Jackson, who is also being courted currently by the Rangers. Bowden says the “ballpark” asking price is…

From Jon Heyman of CBS Sports comes word that the Cubs have agreed to a contract with free agent right-hander Carlos Villanueva. No word yet on the financial terms of the deal. The length is also a mystery, but chances are it’s a one-year pact. Villanueva posted a decent 4.16 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 122/46…

CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the Twins and Mike Pelfrey have come to terms on a one-year deal worth $4 million. The deal includes $1.5 million in incentives for the rehabbing right-hander. The soon-to-be 29-year-old Pelfrey had a 2.29 ERA in three starts for the Mets last season before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He…

Free agent right-hander Scott Feldman has agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with the Cubs, the team announced. The deal also includes $1 million in potential incentives. Feldman became a free agent when the Rangers declined his $9.25 million option for 2013. Texas was hesitant to stick with Feldman in the rotation even after…

Scott Baker‘s comeback from Tommy John surgery will take place in Chicago, as the Cubs announced that they’ve signed the rehabbing right-hander to a one-year deal. Patrick Mooney of CSNChicago.com reports that the contract is worth $5.5 million in guaranteed money, with another $1.5 million in potential incentives. Baker has spent his entire career with…

I would have preferred to have posted this last week, but here’s the remainder of the updated top 111 free agents column. In case you missed it, the top 50 was posted last Friday. Players in the top 111 are ranked based not on how I view them, but more on how I believe teams…

Minnesota declined its $9.25 million option on Scott Baker amid reports that the two sides were working on a new deal for a lesser salary, but the Twins have some competition for the 31-year-old right-hander coming back from Tommy John elbow surgery. Jon Morosi of FOXSports.com reports that the Red Sox, Cubs, Blue Jays, and…

Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that the Twins have declined their $9.25 million option on Scott Baker, making him a free agent after the 31-year-old right-hander missed the entire season following Tommy John surgery. The move was expected, but the two sides have reportedly been negotiating a new deal that could keep…

Two months ago Scott Baker said he’d like to remain in Minnesota after missing this season following Tommy John elbow surgery and yesterday during a radio interview with 1500-ESPN general manager Terry Ryan made it clear that the Twins are interested in keeping him around. Baker has a $9 million option for 2013 that’s certain…

It’s getting to be that time of year, so here is the first of two stabs at a Top 111 free agents list. The other will come shortly after the World Series concludes. Players are ranked based on how I believe teams perceive them, not how I view them myself. Essentially, I rank the players…

Yesterday the Phillies announced that Roy Halladay will miss 6-8 weeks with a strained shoulder, but today the team revealed that Halladay got a second opinion on the injury from Dr. David Altchek in New York. While not as well known as Dr. James Andrews or Dr. Lewis Yocum, Altchek is the Mets team doctor…

When the Twins announced last week that starter Scott Baker needed an elbow procedure and would miss the rest of the 2012 season, they claimed that his ulnar collateral ligament was fine and that it was his flexor pronator tendon that required repairing. That was either incorrect or untrue. According to MLB.com’s Rhett Bollinger, Baker…

The Twins were given quite the scare this afternoon when Nick Blackburn exited his start against the Rangers due to injury. Fortunately it doesn’t appear to be serious. According to Tyler Mason of FOX Sports Midwest, Blackburn was diagnosed with right posterior shoulder stiffness and is listed as day-to-day. The 30-year-old right-hander allowed two runs…

As first reported by Jason Beck of MLB.com, the Twins have claimed outfielder Clete Thomas off waivers from the Tigers. Scott Baker was transferred the 60-day disabled list in order to clear a spot on the Twins’ 40-man roster, but they still need to make a corresponding roster move to add him to the active…

Scott Baker has battled elbow problems since 2010, throwing just 135 innings last year and beginning this year on the disabled list, and after a recent setback the Twins announced today that he’ll undergo season-ending surgery. It’s not Tommy John surgery, but rather a repair of his flexor pronator tendon, which carries a six-month recovery…

Liam Hendriks was released from a Baltimore hospital yesterday and is recovered enough from his bout with food poisoning that he’s rejoined the Twins in Minnesota. Hendriks, who was scratched from his scheduled Sunday start in place of the injured Scott Baker, told Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com that he managed to avoid losing any weight…